Georgia @ Auburn preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 12, 2016 ) Auburn 7, Georgia 13

The “Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry” takes on an added level of national importance Saturday when No. 2 Georgia visits No. 10 Auburn in a SEC matchup that will have wide-ranging College Football Playoff implications. The Bulldogs, who are atop the playoff rankings this week and clinched a berth in the SEC title game with last week’s 24-10 victory over South Carolina, clearly have the most to lose, but the play of freshman quarterback Jake Fromm continues to impress.

Fromm completed 16-of-22 passes for 196 yards and two touchdowns last week, improving to 8-0 as a starter while directing a Georgia offense averaging 39.3 points per game in league competition. “I think playing in that Notre Dame environment was really good for him because that was one of the tougher environments,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart told reporters Monday, referencing a victory in Fromm’s first career start against the fifth-ranked Fighting Irish. The Tigers have losses to No. 4 Clemson and No. 25 LSU, but with victories against Georgia and top-ranked Alabama – both at home – still could reach the SEC championship game. “We are not looking any farther ahead than Saturday,” Tigers coach Gus Malzahn told reporters Tuesday, three days after scoring 42 points in a road victory over Texas A&M. “It’s here. There is a lot on the line for it.”

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Georgia -2 ½

ABOUT GEORGIA (9-0, 6-0 SEC): Fromm has impressed but the Bulldogs offense is fueled by their rushing attack, leading the SEC and ranking eighth in the nation in averaging 279.3 yards per game. Nick Chubb is fifth in the SEC in all-time rushing yards and gained 102 last week, while Sony Michel has 710 yards on the ground and nine touchdowns this season. Georgia’s defense is third nationally in points allowed per game (11.7) and has surrendered just 62 points in six conference contests.

ABOUT AUBURN (7-2, 5-1): The Tigers have set a school record by scoring 40 points or more in its five conference victories, and on the season is one of five FBS teams averaging more than 220 yards rushing and 200 yards passing. Quarterback Jarrett Stidham, a transfer from Baylor who did not play last season, leads the SEC in completion percentage (66.8 percent). Auburn is third in the SEC and ninth nationally in points allowed per game (16.9).

EXTRA POINTS

1. Chubb needs 13 yards rushing to pass Auburn legend Bo Jackson for fourth on the SEC’s all-time career list, and is 300 yards from moving into second.

2. Auburn RB Kerryon Johnson ranks third nationally with 15 rushing touchdowns, and leads the FBS in averaging 13.7 points per game.

3. Georgia has won seven of the past 10 games at Auburn and leads the series – which dates back to 1892 – 57-55-8.

PREDICTION: Georgia 21, Auburn 17